Gas choke for plunger lift devices



Juy 25, 1933 H. w. FLETCHER GAS CHOKE FOR PLUNGER LIFT DEVICES Filed March 5, 1932 c 1 1 l l u n n A.

J/w// lNvENToR BY f@ bram ATTORNEY Patented July 25,1933

UNITEDasTArEs APMI:

T "iossic5151"`l i HAROLD W. FLETCHER,Yor,y Hous'ron, TEXAS, .AssIGNoR ToJHnGHEs Toon COMPANY,

` .GAS oHoKn FOR rumena kLIFT nnvons n replication niealMareh '5, i932. serial 'No'. 596,977.

My invention relates to plunger lift apparatus and pertains particularly-to an at-Y discharge ofthe liquid, but it is not desiredV to also choke down the flow ofthe liquid.

i I desire to. provide a. choke ,device which will allow the free discharge of the liquid from the well butA which. will operate to slow down the lpassage ofgas or air. This will allow the plunger to drop in .the .draft of gas exhausting from the eductlon tube, but

will not 'slow down the operation of the well.

I contemplate the provision of acontrol valve for the outlet flow line which will open to allow the liquid to pass, but which will close when the liquid has been ejected and choke down the passage of the gaseous fluid.

` The invention resides in the construction and arrangementfof the parts ofmy device,

the apparatus being capable ofconsiderable modication, however, in carrying out the invention. I v. Y

In Fig. 1 is shown a central vertical A'section through the upper endv of a plungerlift device with my improvement thereon. Fig.v

` 2 is a similar 'view of the lowerend of the same apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view "ofi the valve employed. Y' My attachment is capable of use on the usual formsof plunger lift apparatus. I have shown an installation including an outer casing l set in the well. The upper end of said casing has a well head 2 thereon. The upper end of the head 2 is closed by a bonnet 3 which is threaded Yinternally at 4 to engage with the extension 5 upon the` eduction tube 6.. The head has arpipe connection at 7 preferably for the introduction of pressure fluid; but which may be used as a vent or any similar purpose. i There is also an outlet port 8 adjacent the upper end'of the'head. Y

' Between the ports 7 and 8 is an internal flange 9 providing an upper shoulder 10 to the tubingA extension "Said extension has i ferred construction.

oat chamber 24, having a cap 25at its upper1 supportthe head 11 upon the eduction tube 6. TheV head 11 is connected with the educf v tion tube vat its lower end and is formed with alseat 12 at its upper end to inter-fit with Vl? discharge slotsv 13 within the well head 2 d and is extendedY above the bonnet. A cap 14 closes Vits upper'end and a buffer 15 of rubber .in said capacts-as a resilient stop memberv 1 ff forthe plunger if it accidentally is blown@` too far. A vent 16 is provided at theupper end of the cap for use when desired.

The eduction tube 6 extendsto the proper depth in the liquid .the well. i It-has a strainerV plug 17 at itslower end. vA stop e member18 above 'the plug 17 limits the travel` ofthe plunger 19. n ,Y

Said plunger is of ordinary construction and has an` upwardly closing valve 20, the stem 21 `onrrwhich projects below the body ofthe plunger. Y

My attachment is connected with theout-` letv 8. It includes. a T-shapcd fitting `22 connected to the outlet' pipe 23. The upper branch of the fitting is connected with `a end. Said cap has anopeningtherein at 26 to receive 'the bypass pipe 27y having an adjustablechoke nipple 28vthereon Vof .any pre.

"The'llower end of the fitting 22Vconnects4 with a special nippleV 3l, the "upper end of which isreduced in diameter and projected into the interior of the fitting. [The 'reduced upperend has a cage 32 thereon with lateral ports33 therein. The outer surface of the cagef32 is cylindrical and avalveVV member of the sleeve type 34 fits closely but slidably thereon. o y Y The construction of the valve'is shown in Fig. 3. It includes the cylindrical'sleeve 34 open at both ends but having a diametrical plate 35 at its upper end. Saidv plate has a- Y central opening 36 to receive a stem 37 which.' fits loosely therein. Said stem hasa head 38 at its lower endbelow said plate 35 and a `nut 39 spaced vslightly above said plate to y allow a small amount of lost motioncin'they of the stem 37. Thisfloat' is a. cylindrical The nipple 31 is connected with the flow line l2 leading to v'a separator or to storage.V The nipple is also connected with the gasV outlet 27 by the bypass 29. K Y

This device operates in the usual manner in raising liquid from the well. The plung-v er with its load of liquid is raised by gas pressure from below and the liquid will discharge through the outlet line 23 tothe valve chamber. The float chamber 24 will be `illed with liquid and the float will rise to open the valve 34 and allow the liquid to How into the flow line. TWhen the liquid has been discharged, the plunger will move past the outlet slots 13 in the liow line and the gas and liquid inthe extension .5 will' stop the plun and open the valve.

lt' the gas behind `the plunger were allowed to exhaust rapidly, it would interfere with the dropping of the plungerto the bottom. The gas exhaust is therefore slowed down by tor-fing it to pass through the choke member 28. This" will lbe accomplished by the dropping of the Afloat 4l and the valve 34, thus closing the outlet directly to the ilow line and compelling the gas to use the byi: 2S) where its speed Ot flow will be restricted. Y

Y This will allow the plunger to drop,with its valve open, to the bottom wherek the contaet of the valve stem 2l withrthe sub 'merged stop member i8 will place the plunger in position to raise anotherv load.

By providing va choke which Vallows free,

outlet for the liquid', but which'slows down the outlet of the gas, the cycle of operations at each s1""'-l\;eo1="i"the plunger 'is speeded up and aV saving ot time is accomplished. `This increases the daily output from the well and is of financial advantage to the operator. The device is simple in construction and can be eidlv attached to'any ordinaryplunger Lil I, lift installation.

TWhat I claim as new is:

l. The combination with -a plunger lift device having an eduction tube, a pneumatically .operated vswab therein,v and a flow line therefrom, of a valve in said flow said chamber, means operatedby liquid in` said chamber to open said valve, said valve 'being closed by gravity, and a bypass in said line around saidV valve.

3. In combination, a plunger lilt device including a pneumatically operated means to. raise liquid from the well and having` a discharge linerconnected therewith;Y a valve, chamber in said discharge line, a valve `in said chamber, aV float on said valveto open and close the same, ya bypass in said line around said valve, anda choke device in said bypass to limit the passage ofl fluid therein. A- L l 4. In a plunger lift device including a pneumatically operated means to raise liq uid from the well and a tow line connected therewith for liquid and gas,va valverchamber in said line, a valve controlling the passage'of fluid directly through said chamber, means to automatically openy said valve actuated by liquid in said chamber, and means to restrict the v,flow of gaseous .fluid :from said chamber. 1 Y i 5. In a plunger lift device, an eduction tube, a pneumatically operated plunger therein 'a flow line connected with said tube, a chamber in said flow line,'means.in 'said chamber to' prevent the'passage of gas but allowing Y free passage-ofliquid ltherei Vuid in said line to Open said valve to allo'w the 'passageo liquid, and to close said valve whenr said liquid "has passed. 'f

' HAROLD w.- FLETCHER. 

